The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Released 12 May 2023 Developer Nintendo EPD Publisher Nintendo
Link explores a Hyrule that now has floating sky islands and a dark underground layer, using new abilities to build vehicles and contraptions from parts he finds while he searches for Zelda. It is a very large single-player action-adventure with fantasy combat, aimed at players who enjoy open-ended exploration and puzzle-solving.
How it makes money
Fair: pay clearly, know the ceiling
A one-off purchase: A$89.95 on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch, with no paid DLC, in-game currency or in-game store. Owners can optionally move to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for a A$20 upgrade pack (free for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members), or buy that edition outright for A$109.95. The Switch 2 version improves resolution, frame rate and HDR support rather than adding a new game.
How you pay
- Pay once
A$89.95 on the Nintendo eShop for the whole game. There is no DLC, in-game store or currency.
- Editions
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (June 2025) is sold as a A$20 upgrade pack for existing owners or A$109.95 as the full edition; the upgrade pack is free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
minor part of the game
What it costs
Price: A$89.95 · everything A$89.95
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch ↗ | A$89.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Full game plus the Switch 2 upgrade. |
Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch 2 ↗ | A$109.95 | Oct 2026 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack For owners of the Switch version; free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. |
Nintendo eShop (AU) · Switch 2 ↗ | A$20 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
What the critics said
-
10/ 10
IGN ↗
Finds that the sequel stretches an already full world far beyond what players would have expected.
-
10/ 10
GameSpot ↗
Praises its open-ended design as one that respects the series' history and sometimes goes beyond it.
-
9.8/ 10
Game Informer ↗
Likes how the new abilities, especially building with Ultrahand, make a familiar Hyrule feel inventive, while admitting the first game's sense of discovery is harder to recapture.
-
10/ 10
Nintendo Life ↗
Calls it a confident sequel with enough to do to fill hundreds of hours.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes). They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the badges above are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- No chat
- No contact with strangers
- No user-made content
- No account needed
Single-player only: there is no online play, chat or user-made content, so no contact with other players. Rated M in Australia (recommended for ages 15 and over, not legally restricted) for fantasy themes and violence, while the US ESRB rates it E10+. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is only needed for cloud saves; the Zelda Notes companion app is optional.
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 Switch 2 Edition; the Switch version also runs on Switch 2. |
5 June 2025 | Store page ↗ |
| Nintendo Switch | 12 May 2023 | Store page ↗ |
Further reading
- Official website ↗
- Nintendo Australia: Switch 2 Edition page (classification, upgrade details) ↗
- Wikipedia ↗
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: www.nintendo.com, www.nintendo.com, api.ec.nintendo.com, www.esrb.org, www.metacritic.com, opencritic.com, en.wikipedia.org. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.